BabiesMovie Reviews

Poster art for "Babies."

Gifts + Promos

Fandango Gift Card

Give the gift of movies with Fandango Bucks Gift Certificates! Design your own gift card, or choose from our collection.

Avengers Gift Cards

Superhero fans! Don’t miss out on these Limited Edition Avengers gift cards!

Need Help?
Go
Avg. Critic Score: 63 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
7 OK for kids 7+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    Boston Globe | Wesley Morris

    I don't think the movie is looking for answers; it isn't asking any questions. But by its very nature, this is both an experiment in ontology (do babies know they're babies?) and existentialism (are they thinking about who to be?). Read full review

  • 75
    Washington Post | Ann Hornaday

    A mesmerizing and weirdly manipulative experience. Read full review

  • 75
    San Francisco Chronicle | Peter Hartlaub

    The similarity between the children is the most striking part of the movie. Read full review

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Just babies. Wonderful. Read full review

  • 75
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    As the movie goes on, these fleshy little beings turn intowell, people. And that's something to see. But Babies, without falsifying its subject, could have used a more soul-stirring sense of showbiz -- that is, a riper display of infantile special effects. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | Sheri Linden

    As a portrait of children who are wanted and loved, it's intimate and often delightful. Read full review

  • 70
    The New York Times | A.O. Scott

    But Babies just might restore your faith in our perplexing, peculiar and stubbornly lovable species. Read full review

  • 70
    Los Angeles Times | Betsy Sharkey

    The result is irresistible and possibly infectious. Read full review

  • 70
    Variety |

    Babies is refreshing in its methods, impressive in its scope and remarkable in its immediacy. That said, it's also an occasionally frustrating documentary that deprives the viewer of the comforts of exposition and cultural context. Read full review

  • 60
    Arizona Republic | Bill Goodykoontz

    An enjoyable movie, in many ways a beautiful movie to look at. One only wishes he'd been a little more ambitious. Read full review

View more reviews for Babies on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 7+ Mesmerizing film for kids and parents who adore wee ones.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this documentary -- which features four families from different parts of the world -- holds large appeal for both parents and children alike. There are no subtitles and several different languages spoken, but the universal messages of family and childrearing come through easily. Some families portrayed come from countries where nudity is commonplace (Namibia, specifically), and there are scenes of mothers breastfeeding children, but the images are placed in their social contexts. The movie offers a way for kids to learn about what it’s like to grow up elsewhere in the planet, and to acknowledge differences as well as similarities.
  • Families can talk about how babies are raised in different countries: Are there any similarities among the four portrayed here? What are the main differences? Why do you think the filmmakers decided to make this movie?
  • What can we learn from the way babies live in different parts of the world? Did you find yourself making judgements about unfamiliar childrearing practices? Why or why not? Do you think the filmmakers presented the four families objectively -- or was there a bias?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: The film offers much food for thought about different ways of childrearing: Some babies are in more sterile environments, and others aren’t. Some babies have more access to books and toys, while others make do with plastic bottles and baby goats. On one hand, it shows that babies thrive and find glee in all sorts of situations, but on the other, it makes us think about unfamilar parenting styles that, if unchecked, could induce judgement calls.
  • rolemodels true2 Positive role models: The four babies featured in this documentary are the stars, and in many ways, they remind us of how determined, persistant, curious, interested, and willful we once were.
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence: Not really a concern, except the kids can be hard on pets. Also, some scenes might induce wincing among those unfamiliar with certain cultural traditions, as when a Namibian mother shaves her baby’s head with a knife. Or when a child seems on the brink of disaster, such as when Bajar teeters atop a barrel.
  • sex false1 Sex: Not an issue, though moms are shown breastfeeding and, in Namibia, topless, as is the custom there.
  • language false0 Language: Not an issue
  • consumerism false1 Consumerism: Hardly an issue, though neon signage (HMV, for instance) is everywhere in Tokyo. Also, titles of books are visible.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false0 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

Looking for more reviews? Movies.com Critics Say:

Dave White

2.0

Dave White Profile See Dave White's Profile

Hell is other people's kids. Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

Jen Yamato

3.5

Jen Yamato Profile See Jen Yamato's Profile

The perfect Mother's Day movie date. Read full review See Dave Jen Yamato's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

Read more movie reviews at Movies.com

Facebook Movie Fans

Fan Fandango on Facebook

Exclusive Features

Babies 100 Days Fandango Review Four 'Babies' Who Are Just as Charming as Robert Downey Jr. A documentary that reminds us that kids are just as captivating as movies.